Use your tax rebate to get greener !

[93ncsu]

I see the impending tax rebates as a great opportunity for Americans to get started on the road to energy efficiency.

The public wants the government to fund alternative energy development, but in the meantime becoming more efficient will be of great assistance to transition.

I believe that people want to use CFLs, but the cry is that they are too expensive.

Well, the rebates will kill these two birds with one stone :

1. Since this is unexpected money, putting it toward CFLs will offset the cost that a family would otherwise have to bear to make the change with regular disposable income dollars. Basically, look at this is a government subsidy to get greener.

2. Since CFLs will last longer and lower energy bills, look at this as a huge opportunity to increase our energy efficiency and cut CO2 emissions.

Not everybody gets a refund every year, and when people do they usually use a good portion of it to pay off Christmas. Well, here is a second refund , and I think it would be wise to make a statement and green up your dwelling as much as possible.

My plans for my $1800 (family of four):

Tankless Water Heater (based on LP) to save electricity and not heat water unnecessarily
Hot Water recirculation device to not waste water at the faucet when I want hot water - this could save me 10,000+ gallons per year
CFLs to replace my incandescants

[Deja Q]

1. I've been doing CFLs long before the fad began, when people said I was wasting money...

I recommend the 6500k "daylight" bulbs -- they cost a little more than the regular CFLs, but the light is a purer white and encompasses most of the daylight spectrum (beneficial to plants, people, everything natural.)